Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by Connor Wachtel
MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs were defeated, 4-2, by the La Crosse Loggers in a Northwoods League baseball game played at ISG Field, Friday night.
The MoonDogs fell to .500 with a 13-13 overall record following the loss while the Loggers improved to 14-12 with the victory.
The Loggers cracked the score column early in Friday’s contest. Carson Hornung (South Carolina) hit a sacrifice fly to center to break the scoreless tie and gave La Crosse an early 1-0 lead in the ballgame.
Mankato evened the score in the bottom of the fourth frame courtesy of an RBI groundout off the bat of John Newman Jr. (UC Santa Barbara) that scored Boston Merila (Minnesota) from 90 feet out after he was advanced to third on a Sean Ross (Indiana State) double to the leftfield corner earlier in the inning.
In the fifth inning, the Loggers rallied for three runs to take a 4-1 lead before the MoonDogs cut the deficit to two with one run in the bottom half of the inning off an RBI single to right by Kai Roberts (Utah).
The MoonDogs were held in check the rest of the way and the Loggers prevailed 4-2 in Friday night’s ballgame in the Key City.
Starting on the mound for the MoonDogs, Donovan Schultz (Evansville) was handed the loss to fall to 2-2. He gave up seven hits and four runs while walking three and striking out seven opposing hitters.
The MoonDogs open a new home-and-home series 6:35 p.m. Friday night at ISG Field against the Great Plains West division-leading St. Cloud Rox. The contest will conclude a four-game homestand for the MoonDogs, who have John Lundgren (North Alabama) listed as their probable starting pitcher.
-DOGS-
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
